[darkbrowneggs]

I  an elderly gypsy many years ago wanted me to take "luck money" which I refused not understanding.  He got quite perturbed and in the end gave me a cast iron doorstop in the shape of a horse which I had admired   
 
I still have it now some 40 or more years later and wouldn't dream of parting with it.   

[Andrew]

When I was livestock buying(about 10 years ago) it was the done thing to give £1 per beast in the fat ring and £1 per pen of fat lambs.Any farmer who did not give luck would find that there were far fewer bids on their lots. I once purchased a show champion for about £2000 and my luck on that was £100. When you received luck money you had to lift it to your lips and appear to spit on it while the seller was thanking you and wishing you luck with your purchase.
 

[Small Farmer]

At the North of England Mule Association sales we attended last year it was certainly more than a few fivers being waved around, and applied to well over half the lots we watched through.  At the Bicester sheep fair a month or so back there was the occasional sight of luck money but no more than that.

[Blinkers]

I actually felt very intimidated by the chap that I was selling this particular item to and he was dropping LARGE hints about giving back £50!!!!!!   The item sold for £1750 and if I hadn't felt so threatened I would have handed back a tenner........possibly  ...as it happened I didn't give him anything 

[Alistair]

I asked for it at tesco this afternoon, buggers threw me out ..... Again

[SallyintNorth]

I asked for it at tesco this afternoon, buggers threw me out ..... Again

  Nice one, Alistair 

[RaisinHall Tamworths]

We always give luck money when we sell anything 

[Womble]

Thanks for all the replies folks - very illuminating!

We sold our first chooks on Sunday to a friend, but I forgot to give them any luck money. Sadly it looks as though I should have done, since one has already escaped and is running riot around their neighbourhood! 

[chickenfeed]

luck money is very often given around here usually when the bidding gets to a decent price the seller will let it be known they are offering lucky money by holding it up so the money is on view this can be coins or notes its just a tradition.

[jaykay]

It's originally a Viking custom which I suppose explains why it's more prevalent in the north.

It doesn't have to be a lot, it's generally a gesture. Anything from 1% -5%.

When it gets into serious money it's lost the sense of it all.

I have had luck given in kind too, which is also nice. I bought a field and had a load of limestone chippings as luck, and bought some sheep and got a showing halter as luck.

I always give it, I think it's a good thing, apart from anything else it means the buyer and seller make contact. I was very sad at Carlisle to have bought a tup lamb and not to have had the chance to talk to the sellers, tell them I'd take good care of him, tell them about the girls he was winning etc (as the lady was apparently sad to see him go). All of which we'd have done if they'd come to give me luck.

[Greenmoor]

The man we bought our eight Oxford Downs from at the weekend handed us £20 luck money and we got the same from the man we bought two of our pigs from earlier this year 

[SallyintNorth]

I was very sad at Carlisle to have bought a tup lamb and not to have had the chance to talk to the sellers, tell them I'd take good care of him, tell them about the girls he was winning etc (as the lady was apparently sad to see him go). All of which we'd have done if they'd come to give me luck.

I think they were too upset, jay    He was clearly a great favourite.  Plus at that sale it's a madhouse and hard to find your buyers - not like a regular sale where you can ask the auctioneer to point them out for you.

I always go to the pens and see the stock I've bought as soon as I can, which gives the seller an opportunity to share any info and give luck if they want - but I know you had other things you - and your dad - wanted to bid on, so that wasn't so easy for you. 

However, I was at the pens and was able to tell them he was going to the very best home he could possibly have been going to (which I meant wholeheartedly, by the way  )   If they hadn't been so upset (and embarassed about being so) I would have brought them round and pointed you out to them.

How's he doing anyway?  Settled in ok? 

[jaykay]

Yeh, that sale is mad and it's just luck if you catch your sellers even if you do go out to the pens straight after. In fact, I spoke to them about the colour of his parents while their son was showing him.

He's doing well, settled with the tup lambs nicely and wants hand feeding. Not sure I think that's a great idea with a tup, even one that's only ever going to be knee high to a grasshopper.

I found the lady's address on the pedigree certificate so I've sent her a card with reassurances (and that it was me who spoke to her) and some pics of him with his new friends 

How are your two little Shetland X's doing?

[Bionic]

I haven't come across this yet but then I have only bought a couple of ducks at a mart.
It sounds to me a bit like the money you are supposed to put in a purse you are giving or selling to someone. Just a coin, as a token of luck.
Sally

[SallyintNorth]

I found the lady's address on the pedigree certificate so I've sent her a card with reassurances (and that it was me who spoke to her) and some pics of him with his new friends 

That's really kind of you 

I agree on the hand-feeding - sweet but kinda scarey... especially with a tup lamb.  (Now I'm hearing Brucklay's voices!  )

How are your two little Shetland X's doing?

Absolutely great.  They settled right in with the Lanark Four.  They're fearless - straight up to screeching pigs (who'd seen me in the distance with a bucket  ), the 6-month old calves, you name it.  Except the humans, of course, but that will come.  BH thinks they're very nice sheep, a good addition to the flock.  But says I have to stop now and concentrate on getting some Icelandics sorted